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Chasing zanders with Pontoon21 Ratta soft bait lures

Mario Matijašić

From 2013 - Chief of Commetee, main organisator of Trout Union Cup - International project of making sport spinning fishing tournaments, based at international rules, where only trouts are objects of fishing.

Since very young age, even before school, love in nature, rivers and fish were born. Taking rod in hand a way of life was chosen.

Ratta soft bait lures as all Pontoon21 soft baits come from Homunculures laboratory. When we mention Homunculures, we understand that the lure is made from special durable and very soft combination of plastic materials called Gumexin, it is colored by unique system called Rincoal and have SFT original composition of scent, variations of flavors and taste. According to these advantages, Homunculures soft bait lures from are designed for all types of rigs. Having almost invisible slit for a better hook fit as well as the fact that it is hollow inside, which helps simple and unmistakable hooking and thanks to interesting outer and inner construction features lures provide us with equally effective movements and action. If we take a look and compare shads and Homunculures soft bait lures, we will notice very good wide action style of Awaruna as well as fast but narrow tail action of slim Attira. Ratta soft bait lures are in the middle of tail action range, which makes Ratta one of the best variants for zander fishing.

In different periods of the year zanders have different type of behavior. In summertime, as now, in slow rivers and lakes they don’t feed often and they are much more cautious than in spring, before and after spawn. They are less active during day so the best time for fishing is at sunrise or sunset. Being migration fish, zander frequently travels a lot searching for food and best places for ambush prey. Places where we should search for them are on transitions from shallow to deep water, sandbars and near sinked branches and roots. In suchlike places, small fishes are gathering up, zanders are sure to know these places and their attacks are unavoidable. Another important thing in zander fishing is to choose the right size of the lure depending on size of natural fish in water, the most numbered one, the most probable prey of zander. Ratta soft bait lures come in 5 sizes: 2,25, 2,75, 3,25, 3,75 and 4,25 inch which enables us to choose the right size thereby allowing us to use the necessary tackle, from ultra light to serious tackle in fishing for well-sized zanders.

Rigging options for Ratta lures are various and we can adjust rigging style to conditions under the water. Its cross-section looks like triangle so lure balance is untroubled in rigs like drop shot or flexi jig. Also, simple jig head rig is very effective. In any case, it’s very important to choose the right weight. We recommend that you always use lightweight options to ensure right – natural drop of lure after retrieving. Zanders like it and there’ll be many strikes just after the lure drops. When we say lightweight, we mean that its weight should be no more than 2 g no matter what depth we have and what size of lure we have. Also, to make lure activity even better we should use a hook one size smaller than the original one, without being afraid of losing fish. Zanders will swallow it, no worries, as deep as they can. Retrieving style is based on stop&go presentation when we, with rod only, lift up the lure for app. 20-40cm, stop, then let the lure drop on the bottom again. Then, we pick up the rest of the line or braided line, and so on we repeat everything once again. We can do it faster or slower, also varying pauses between lure movements. Zanders are a ‘’cunning’’ fish and we should change these parameters to provoke them, otherwise, they are able to follow the lure for a long time without biting it.

Picking up the right color for zander fishing can sometimes be important. Ratta, as well as all Homunculures soft bait family, have special gleamy coloring system so lures look like real targets. Zanders like natural colors of lures but, sometimes, they’d rather choose flashy unnatural colors. There is no need to focus on just one type, changes are welcome. Why does that happen, we will probably never know for sure, but assumption is that fish while detecting colors in their spectar, in different water levels can have different view, depending on optical refraction. The best colors are as follows: natural 101, 105, 416, 432-437 and flashy 102, 118, 401,403, 422, 439… Individual colors can be used differently in different rivers or lakes and these listed are claimed as universal. For sure, color is not a primary condition which determines attacks but can also contribute to more successful fishing.

We will get better lure presentation and better contact with it also as bite detection if we choose braided line instead of simple line. It is not necessary to use braid over 0,15 mm because of better tactile control when fishing and it is enough to manage the fish. We also have an edge if we fish in deeper places, over 6-7 meters, then thinner braids do not sink on own weight. Fluorocarbon leader is not unavoidable but it is recommended because of stones, branches, freshwater shells also as zanders teeth which can easily damage our braided main line. Pontoon21 Exteer braided line combined with Pontoon21 SFC Flouorocarbon leaders (braid 0,148mm with FC 0,20mm) is the best variant. This is a resistant combination which ensures our catch in the net. Thus, use rods with the test up to 20 gr in general, with fast or extra fast action, like Pontoon21 Detonada 4-18gr 7’’ which provides perfect contact with lure and fish, has enough power and offers memorable fish fights.